Russian embassy criticizes award for photo of envoy to Turkey killing

The Russian Embassy in Ankara has expressed anger over the awarding of the prestigious World Press Photo Award for an image of an Turkish policeman assassinating the Russian envoy to Turkey last year.

The decision by the jury was "demoralizing" and showed "complete degradation of ethics and moral values," the Russian embassy said Tuesday in a statement on its official Facebook page.

"Propaganda of the horror of terrorism is unacceptable," it added.

The controversial image, which was taken by Burhan Ozbilici, a photographer for the Associated Press, also winning first prize in the spot news stories category, captured off-duty Turkish police officer shouting while holding a gun after shooting Russian envoy.